Phantom, Passed away from cancer 06/08/2010

I remember the day Tom said, let’s get a dog. I said no way. We both work and I don’t want the mess. After much persuading, I reluctantly gave in. He had heard of an animal shelter that rescues dogs from the pound and tries to find them homes. Still not keen to the idea of having a dog, he picked me up at work and we drove to a farm outside of Minerva. As we approached a long driveway a lady appeared with about 10 dogs following her. After meeting her, she took us into a big barn where about 25 more dogs of all sizes and ages were in large runs. She proceeded to let them out and let us watch as they played and romped around. There were many cute and friendly dogs, but there was one that immediately caught our eye. He was a small black dog with a white patch on his neck. He came to the front of the bunch, licked our hands and actually smiled at us. I have never seen a dog do that before. The woman had rescued him a few days earlier from the Ravenna Humane Society where he was to be put to sleep the next day. She took many dogs that day but choose him because he grinned and smiled at her from his cage. We both agreed he was the one we wanted.
As Tom drove home, the puppy sat on my lap and never got off. We realized we would have to stop and get some food and supplies for the pup before we got home. The puppy watched Tom walk into the store and never took his eyes of the door until Tom came out about 15 minutes later. I remember thinking at the time this puppy was very intelligent and unique. So begins the adventures of this remarkable dog we named Phantom that would change our lives forever.

We got Phantom on a Friday so we could spend the weekend with him before going back to work. He was easy to house break and very good inside. Tom and I couldn’t believe how easy the transition was from the animal shelter to our home. He was the perfect dog. Little did we know what was in store for us in the coming weeks?
We decided to keep him in a large cage in our basement when we both were at work. Inside the cage were toys and a large towel for him to lie on. I would be coming home every day for lunch to let him out. That first Monday I came home, drove down our drive, there he was out of his cage looking out the window. How could this be? Did we forget to latch the door on the cage? As I entered the basement I was in total disbelief. The room looked like someone had ram sacked it. He had ripped the couch and tore out all the stuffing. He had chewed holes in new carpet. He had knocked over flower pots. He had made huge scratches on the door leading upstairs. I immediately called Tom and told him what HIS dog had done and I was NOT cleaning this up until he came home.
In the coming days the same scenario happened over and over. My friends at work would listen to our horror stories and chuckle in disbelief. Phantom became the Houdini at getting out of his cage everyday and wagging his tail and greeting us at the door. Every night we would reinforce his cage with locks, clamps and bolts. Every day I came home at lunch and he was out. My Dad, a dog owner of over 60 years, said you are not going to keep him are you? When we were home with him at night he was the perfect dog. He just couldn’t stand to be left at home by himself in a cage. Finally at our wits end, we took him out of the cage and left him loose in the house. He was a dog of routine. The drapes had to be completely shut during the day. Nothing could be moved from its original position. We once moved his bed cushion from one side of the fireplace to the other to find it chewed up when we got home. He became less destructive and more content each passing day.
Phantom would greet us each day with a “smile”… so happy to see us. If I came home first, he couldn’t wait to greet Tom when the garage door went up. Even when we moved to Louisville, I looked forward to coming home at lunch to see him. He went with us everywhere. He loved to go in the car. He would patiently wait for us in the car while we went shopping, out to eat, and 2 hour movies. We took him to parties, cookouts, and friends and families houses. I do appreciate all our friends and families who allowed him to come with us. He even went with us on vacation to a pet friendly hotel in downtown Cleveland and ate with us at restaurants that had outside dining
When Tom surprised me with a 50th birthday party of over 100 people, there was Phantom going around and greeting each guest. He loved everyone and never growled at anyone the whole time we had him. When my Dad had hip surgery and stayed at our house to recover, Phantom stayed by his side all night and all day to take care of him. If we were sick or recuperating he would always lie beside us on the bed as if that was his duty. When I stayed with my Grandma who had dementia the last year of her life, he always brought a smile to her face as she petted him. As she rocked in her rocking chair he would rest his head on the top of her feet.
About 3 years ago we moved to Louisville where he quickly adapted to our new house and all our neighbors. He looked forward to running over and greeting everyone as they came outside. His second home became the Hollifields who have 4 children and live next door to us. Keri would insist that he stay with them when we went on vacations. She didn’t realize what she was getting her self into. Keri and her daughters Katie and Emily came over many times to leave him out and walk him. I remember one day in particular. I called Katie and ask her if she wanted to go with us on a walk. I told Phantom we were going on a walk with Katie. He bolted out of our garage over to their front porch and waited for Katie to come out. We appreciate all that you guys did for him and thanks to Mike across the street who took over if the Hollifields were busy. He truly loved all you guys and enjoyed all the attention you gave him.
After a short 7 years, Phantom passed away on 06/08/10, after being sick less than 1 day. The vet said he had cancer in his lungs. He was very active and never showed any signs of the disease. He had little suffering which Tom and I are very grateful for. We were totally caught off guard and not expecting this. As we grieve his passing, I’m reminded of the dog I never wanted in the beginning and how he touched our lives and so many others.